House Tour-Candace

Name: Candace Danylewich
Location: Hemnesberget, Norway
Square Footage: 150 sq metres (1614 sq.ft)
Years Lived in: 3
Rent or own: own
Describe your style: Nordic-charm, Scandinavian, retro-modern mix
Blog/Website/Twitter: http://www.corrosiveheart.org/smak

What's your favorite free/found item?
We've been so lucky that almost all of our "mid-century" furniture has been free! The one item I happened to find in my collection that I can't do without is my secretary desk. It hides everything well, looks great, and it doubles as a fantastic workspace for my writing and various other projects.

What's your favorite purchased item?
Without a doubt the best purchase and investment we've made was our wonderful kitchen. While it might not be the biggest kitchen, it functions so well and makes my job as a full-time mom and a food-enthusiast such a pleasure. Being able to design it from scratch and install it made us appreciate it even more. Seeing it come together was a great feeling. Because I'm a part-time food writer my kitchen is my biggest workspace. Having designed it for my storage needs and actual working space has been such an asset.

What has been your biggest obstacle in decorating/design?
A serious lack of time! With two small toddlers in the house it can definitely be a struggle. We've actually accumulated so much in just three years but haven't had much time to bring it out or find a place for it.


Is your design style organic or planned?
Definitely organic. Sure I can plan where some art might hang, but all the rest comes into place with time and opportunity.

What is your favorite spot in the house?
Our bedroom is our refuge. Although it's not the biggest room it definitely gives us a place to relax and find calm. Since our move to this house it's been through several changes, but now that it's finished it's perfect. The colours are calming, the artwork reflects our interests and cultures, and all the rest ties in so well.

How has your style changed in the past 5 years?
I'm happy to admit that today I can call my style my own. I used to really follow the trends but now it's all about mixing ideas and items we've purchased or inherited over the years. We've also really cut back onto what we think we need. Less is definitely more and we try to keep it simple as possible. Some items have been donated/returned, and some older items have been repurposed.

What is your favorite resource or store?
I subscribe to various design blogs and constantly collect interior magazines from Scandinavia for ideas. Many times I'll see an item I like from the US or the UK and a few months later they'll arrive in Denmark or Sweden. Without these resources I'd never be able to purchase those small items I've had my eye on.

What is your biggest decorating/design pet peeve?
Mid-century modern overkill clutter! I've always had a love for older furniture and antiques, but the idea of calling anything and everything "Danish" or "Mid-century" is too much. Finding one great item and featuring it well says alot. Introducing too many items for the sake of showing off each find really loses focus and distracts one from the real beauty and design of a piece.

What has been your favorite design trend?
The mix of old and new. My husband and I are always on the hunt for antiques and really appreciate the character and quality of older items from decades ago.


What is the biggest influence on your design/decorating style?
Mood and function. Often enough when the seasons change and we're feeling more chipper than usual, new fabrics and artwork will come out and I'll spend an entire weekend re-decorating. I also tend to re-evaluate if the items I have have a purpose or real function. If they're not something I'll use or have a place for, they'll go back into the attic!

What in your home dictates how you design/decorate?
Mood, season, and functionality. I tend to switch things up every so often and the seasons really reflect in my design. During the summers I will go into our garden and cut as many of my favourite flowers as I can and decorate around the house. We also have two small children that have non-stop energy. The idea of having several chairs lying around just for the sake of decoration just won't work. We keep it simple and try to avoid unnecessary clutter.


What is the simplest thing you have done that has made the biggest impact?
I wanted to say renovating the kitchen (my workspace), but the simplest decision we made was to re-wallpaper our bedroom. The rest of the house has wooden panelling (very Norwegian) but our bedroom is somewhat more unique. It makes our bedroom more of a sanctuary rather than just a room to sleep. The element of nature in its pattern (Treebomb from Ferm Living) makes this a room of interest and really brings the artwork together.

all photos courtesy of homeowner. If you would like to have your home featured please send me an email or submit pictures of your home to the flickr group.